Barimah Oppong Yaw Boabasa, Gyaasehene of Dormaa Traditional Area, has appealed to government and the Governing Council of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UNER) to expedite action on the construction of lecture halls and accommodation facilities for the Dormaa Campus.
He underscored the need for government to double up efforts to complete works started on building lecture halls and other infrastructure to enhance academic activities.
Currently, students of the Dormaa Campus, through an arrangement made between authorities of the University and Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, the Paramount Chief of Dormaa Traditional Area, use a hotel facility owned by the Paramount Chief situated off the Aboabo road for their lectures due to lack of lecture halls.
Barimah Oppong Yaw Boabasa made the appeal on behalf of Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, when members of the Governing Council of the University paid a courtesy call on Mr Drissa Ouattara, the Dormaa Central Municipal Chief Executive in Dormaa Ahenkro.
“Whenever we celebrate any major festival in Dormaa, which this year we plan to, the hotel additionally accommodates and welcomes visitors invited by Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II for such august occasions. We will feel glad if facilities will be ready by September so students can relocate, ” he added.
The Chief said the Paramount Chief played an instrumental role in allocating 2000 acres of land for the siting of a Campus of the University in Dormaa after sensing it was in great need of land and a place for the students to use as lecture halls.
“This compelled Osagyefo to make his hotel available for students for lectures. We expected that two years later, infrastructure to aid learning and teaching will be provided for us to move students there but this has not been the case, ” he stated.
He also lamented over the limited staff strength for administrative work.
Mr Drissa Ouattara, the Dormaa Central Municipal Chief Executive, praised the hard work by authorities of the University stressing there were lots of socio-economic benefits to be derived from its presence in Dormaa.
He advised members of the Governing Council to forward copies of government projects to be executed for the University to the Assembly to be given to the Assembly’s Works and Engineering Department so they can apprise themselves of development, and work together to ensure value for money on all projects.
Dr Charles Adarkwah, Dean School of Agriculture and Technology, UNER, conceded that the institution was berserk with numerous challenges.
He revealed that it cultivated 20-30 acres of maize, but was, however, in dire need of tractors disclosing the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) had given an assurance of supplying some of the tractors to them in a meeting which sought to elicit advice from the University towards the implementation of Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.
Dr Adarkwah added that the institution was working with its top scientist to produce certified seeds for farmers noting “these days the hybrid seeds were losing its viability”.
On relocating the students, he said they took notice of the concerns raised by the Chief, “left with us alone we would have moved everything by July”.
Mr Solomon Bamford, the Registrar, on behalf of the Council thanked the MCE and nananom for their unflinching support.
Mr Maxwell Mensah, Assistant Director One, Dormaa Municipal Assembly, asked for collaboration between the University and the Assembly and appealed to them to ensure regular updates in the University is submitted to the Assembly
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Source: GNA